Vehicle-coupling.



J'. E.. WHITE. VEHICLE GOUPLING. APPLIOATION FILED MAB. 27, 1908.

935,1 34, Patented sept. 28,1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

nuentoz J. R. WHITE. VEHICLE COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED MAR.27,1908.

935,1 34, Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

ANDREW, n, GRAHAM cu.. wnorcumocsmvwzus. wAsmNGToN. n. c.

JOSEPH R. WHITE, 0F SCROGGINS, TEXAS.

VEHICLE-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1999.

Application led March 27, 1908. Serial No. 423,749.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH R. IVHITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scroggins, in the county of Franklin, State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Couplings; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will en-able others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to vehicle couplings, and more particularly tothat class which serve to connect the front bolster and hounds of avehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a coupling of this class whichwill permit of travel of the vehicle over rough roads without therunning gear being injured or broken due to the additional strain placedupon it, incident to such travel.

In carrying out my invention I have aimed so to construct the couplingthat the usual turning movement of the axle will not be interfered. within the slightest degree, and in which the hounds and bolster will be assecurely connected as if rigid with respect to each other, the onlymovement possible being a rocking movement of the bolster relatively tothe hounds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a vehicleillustrating the manner in which the bolster and front axle may rockwith respect to the body of the vehicle. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe hounds, bolster and other related parts, Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. t is atop plan view, partly in section. Fig. 5 is a vertical transversesectional view taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4 and looking in thedirection of the arrow thereon, and showing in dotted lines the positionassumed by certain parts when the front axle is rocked, and, Fig. G is adetail perspective view of a portion of the coupling.

In the drawings, 10 designates generally the front bolster of thevehicle, 11 the front axle, and 12 the front hounds, the latter beingmounted beneath the bed of the vehicle as usual, and having their rearends rigidly connected with a sill 13, and their forward ends rotatablyconnected with the bolster 10 by means hereinafter described.

The forward ends and intermediate portions of the hounds are connectedand braced by means of the bearings which are provided for the couplingbolt of the device. The intermediate bearing comprises a head 14Cthrough which the coupling bolt is passed as will be presently fullyexplained, and extending rearwardly from the head in diverging planesare channeled attaching arms 1G to receive the intermediate and rearportions of the hounds in which the latter are held by bolts 17. Theforward bearing for the coupling bolt comprises a head 18 at the ends ofwhich are formed rearwardly diverging channeled attaching arms 19 toreceive the forward ends of the hounds which are held therein in anysuit-able manner. The coupling bolt to which reference has been madecomprises a shank 21 at the forward end of which is formed a flat head22 which is passed through the bolster 10 and projects forwardlytherebeyond, the shank of the bolt being extended rearwardly from thesaid bolster' and through opening 23 formed in the head 1st and aregistering opening formed in the head 18. The shank 21 of the bolt isthreaded at its rear end4 and has a nut 24 mounted thereon for thepurpose of holding the bolt against longitudinal play in its bearings.

It will be observed from the drawings that the fianges of the arms ofthe intermediate bearing for the coupling bolt terminate short of thehead 14 thus to adapt the latter to constitute one member of a swivelconnection between the hounds and the bolster, the other member of whichis composed of the forward bearing embodying the arms 19 and the head1S. rIhe coupling between the hounds and the bolster comprises a plate15 which is formed at each end with a seat 26 for the shanks of thebolts 27 which are passed through t-he bolster 10 and serve to hold theplate assembled with the bolster,

there being a liner 25 interposed between' the bolster and the plate.The plate is formed at each of its ends and upon its rear face with acleat 29, the two cleats being projected toward each other and arespaced with respect to the rear face of the plate thereof. Theprojecting ends 20 of the head 1S of the forward bearing work betweenthe plate 15 and the cleats 29 as clearly shown in Fig. 2 which cleats29 constitute keepers, as it will be obvious that the coaction betweenthe cleats and head 18 will serve not only to relieve the coupling bolt21 from strains that would tend to withdraw it from the heads 14 and 18,but that the connection serves effectually to swivel the hounds to thebolster in connection with the head 14 and stem 21.

Secured to the under side of the bolster 10 is one member 30 of thefifth wheel of the vehicle, the other member 31 of which is secured tothe upper face of the axle 11 and is formed at its rear edge with ears32 bent downwardly against the rear face of the axle. A plate 33 isseated in a recess formed in the upper face of the axle 11 and projectsat its ends forwardly and rear wardly beyond the axle, and a similarplate 34 is disposed against the under side of the axle, there being aking bolt 35 passed through the head 22 of the coupling bolt, themembers and 31 of the fifth wheel of the vehicle, and the ends of theplates 33 and 34 which project forwardly beyond the axle. The rear endportions of the plates 33 and y 34 are bent to extend vertically of therear of the axle 11 and then rearwardly in mutual contact, theserearwardly extended portions being perforated and receiving the clampingbolt 33 as illustrated. To obviate binding between the parts, threewashers 37 are arranged upon the bolt '35, one of which is disposedbetween the upper member 30 of the fifth wheel and the head 22 of thecoupling bolt, the second between the n plate 33 and the under member 31of the fifth wheel, and the third between the lower plate 34 and theforward end of a brace 38 which is disposed beneath the axle and throughwhich the bolt passes, there be- Y ing a nut 3S threaded upon the boltbeneath the brace to hold the bolt in position. The brace 38 is extendedrearwardly and upwardly and has its rear end upturned and formed with anope-ning through which the coupling bolt 21 passes, there being a washer39 disposed between the upturned end and the head 14 of the rear bearingand a second washer 40 interposed between this upturned end and the nut24. The brace 38, as will be readily understood, serves to stay the axlewith respect to the hounds and further aids in preventing accidentalwithdrawal of the bolt from the heads 14 and 18.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that there is provided aconnection of the class described in which, while all of the hounds. Itwill also be observed that as far as possible any likelihood of thecoupling'k bolt 21 becoming` accidentally withdrawn from its bearing isobviated.

I claim: Y

1. In a coupling of the class described, the combination with the houndsand front bolster of a vehicle, of front and rear bearings connectingand bracing the hounds, a coupling bolt non-rotatably connected with thebolster and extended through the bearings, and a swivel connectionbetween the bolster and front bearing and comprising a member which isattached to the bolster and in which a portion of the front bearingworks. 1

2. In a coupling of the class described, the combination wit-h thehounds and front bolster of a vehicle, of front and rear bearingsconnecting and bracing the hounds, a coupling bolt formed with a head.that is passed through the bolster, the shank of the bolt being extendedthrough the bearings, a strap passed beneath the axle of the vehicle andengaged at its rear end with the like end of the coupling, a king boltpassed through the forward end of the strap, theV head of the couplingbolt and the fifth wheel of the vehicle, and a swivel connection betweenthe bolster and the front bearing.

3. In a coupling of the class described, the combination with the houndsand front bolster of a vehicle, of front and rear bearings connectingand bracing the hounds, the front bearing being provided with lateralextensions, a coupling bolt non-rotatably connected with the bolsterandV extended through the bearings, and a member secured to the bolsterand provided with keepers to hold the lateral extensions of thefrontbearing rotatably connected with the member tov secure a swivelconnection between the bolster and the front bearing.

In testimony whereof, I afx my signature., in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH R. WHITE.

I/Vitnesses R. T. VILKINsoN, F. J. JoYoE.

